xkcd

I played water polo in high school during the swimming off season. Water polo is one of the most intense sports I know of. It's like the intensity and aggression of hockey but while swimming. To give perspective by placing modesty aside for a moment, I was a very good swimmer and captain of the swim team. When I went to swim meets (competitions), many other swimmers in my district knew me and were upset they were going to lose. If my grades weren't terrible, I could've easily gotten a full scholarship for swimming.

Still, when I played water polo, I was TERRIBLE. There is so much nasty aggression that happens underwater. Half of water polo is trying to drown the opponents without getting caught. Seriously! One thing to do is wrap your legs around the opponents waist then stand up. This immediately pulls them under water while you look innocent af with your hands out of the water. And there are many more tactics, such as splashing a lot so the officials cant see you foul someone. Anyway, even though I was a great swimmer, I sucked at water polo because I was too skinny and non-aggressive. The good water polo players were beasts. Forty percent is swimming athleticism. Only 10% is skill of throwing a grippy ball in a huge goal. Non-water polo players would be drowning the entire match. If we had legit normies playing water polo against an Olympic team, all we'd see is the lifeguard jumping in to rescue normies until the normie team forfeits.

I'm not kidding. Anyone else here that has played water polo, back me up here.